Apparatus for



2-SheetsSheet 1.

J; EATON. v APPARATUS FOR STRETGHING HAT BODIES.

(No Model.)

o. 292,634. Patented Jan. 29, 1884.

FIG :5. v

W m M N. PFIERS. PhoIn-Lflhogmphrr. wnsningimfuc.

(No Model.) 2 f APPARATUS FOR ,STRETGHING HAT BODIES.

the following is a specification.

PA N O Joan Enron;lonsrocnronn'oounrr on onnsrnn, ENGLAND;

APPARATUS Fo R STRETCH] Ne HAT- B0 0 IES.

srfncrr'rcnrron forming part of Letters Patent No. 292,634, dated January 29, 1884, Application filed August (I, Iss3. (X o model.) I Patented in England April 19, 1853, No 1,976; in France August 1, 1883, No. 156,830,

and in Italy August 11, 1883, No. 15,778.

To all whom; it may concern Be it known that I, J oHN Enron, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain andiIrelan'cL'andi residing at Stockport, in the countyof Chester, 1 England, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for Stretching Hat-Bodies, of which This invention relates tothe construction of apparatus to be employed for the purpose of stretching hat-bodies in the process of manufacture. I

Figure 1 in the annexed drawings represents a vertical section, Fig. '2 a front elevation, (shown also partly in section,) andrFig. 3 a

ranged for stretching the tips of hat-bodies. Fig. 4 is a detached view, showing the catch for retaining the frame carrying the cups, and Fig. 5 is a View of a modified form of block.

The apparatus consists, principally, of two half-blocks, a a, of a cylindrical or "conical form,with a rounded apex, and two corresponding half-cups, b b, fitting thereon, and firmly pressed inward against the rounded-apex of .the half-blocks a a by means of the weighted grip between the half-block a and its corresponding half-cup I) being kept firm by theaction of the weighted levers c c (or by springs) as the half-blocks a a open out. The halfblocks a a are carried on standards e e, sliding in horizontal grooves in the frame f f, the

, lower ends of the said standards beingprothe curvedbracket m m. plan view, of my improved apparatus as arthesaid weighted leversc 0 will draw the halfiblocksjtogether again. As the blocks ap .1 hat-body.partiallyJround on the half-blocks a a before pressing down the treadle again, so as to stretch the tip in a fresh direction at each tread. The downward action of the treadlek '70,,and consequently the amount of stretch given to the tip,may be limited by placing the pin Z (see Fig. 2) in any one of the holes in (See Fig. 1.)

The small handle a a (see Figs. 3 and 4) is for the purpose of raising the halfcups b 7) into position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, so as to afford' facility for removing and replacing thefhat-bodies. Near to this handle'n a is a small stud, o 0, and by grasping this at the same. time the operative releases the catch d d, so as 'to allow of the frame p p (which carries the half-cups b h) being raised up. 1 q q is a name-plate for exhibiting thename and address of the inventor or patentee and the maker of the machine.

Fig. 5 shows the form of half-blocks and halfcups which I employfor high narrow-crowned hats, and for stretching the brims of the hatbodies I employ half-blocks of somewhat similar form, but larger at the base in proportion, so that tlie body is only stretched at the brim, and not at the tip. I11 place of the half-cups,

I then employ two or three pairs of half-rings beveled inside to suit the-angle of the cone,

and in some cases I prefer to divide the blocks or cones and the cups or rings into a larger number of sections than two, and when six-or more sections are used I give the stretching 1 motion to each alternate section only, the inthe parts of the block away from each other, as set forth.

2. The combination of the frame of a hatmachine, a hat-block made in two or more parts, and standards adapted to guides in said frame, and carrying the parts of the block, with corresponding cups adapted to be held to the said parts to retain the hat thereon,and devices, substantially as described,for moving said standards to separate the parts of the block.

3. The combination of the frame of a hatmaehine, and a hat-block made in two or more parts, with a movable frame carrying yielding cups corresponding with the parts of the said block and applied thereto, with devices, substantially as set forth, for separating the parts of the block with their corresponding cups.

4'. The combination of the main frame of a hat-machine, a hat-block made in two ormore parts, and devices for withdrawing said parts from each other, with a pivoted frame, 1), carrying cups 1) b, and yielding devices pressing the cups into contact with the parts of the block, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of the main frame of a hat-machine, a hat-block madein'two or more parts, and devices for withdrawing said parts from each other, with a movable pivoted frame, carrying yielding cups adapted to bear on the parts of the block, and a catch, (1, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the frame of a hatmachine, a hat-block made in two or more parts, and yielding cups held to said parts, with sliding standards 0, carrying the latter, and a plunger, i, under the control of the operator to separate said standards, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN EATON.

Witnesses:

GEORGE Divins, CHARLES A. DAVIES. 

